The Romanian Social Democratic Party, the main ruling party, announced on Monday a major reshuffle of the government, with nearly one-third of the ministers being replaced.

According to the new cabinet formula approved by the National Executive Committee, the decision-making body of the party, eight of the 28-member cabinet led by Prime Minister Viorica Dancila were replaced.

The reshuffle involved only ministers of the Social Democrats in the coalition government, while those of the ruling partner, the Liberal and Democratic Alliance Party, continue to remain in their positions.

The new cabinet was officially announced on Monday evening by Dancila at a press conference, together with party leader Liviu Dragnea.

According to her, the ministers of the ministries of Regional Development and Public Administration, National Defence, Labor and Social Justice, Transport, Economy, Communications and Information Society, Culture and National Identity and of Youth and Sports will be replaced.

Among the ministers who have been replaced, except for Minister of Labor Lia Olguta Vasilescu, proposed to take over the Transport portfolio, the others will leave the cabinet.

The first major reshuffle since the first woman prime minister of the country was sworn in on Jan. 29 was only a change of ministers, and there was no change in the composition of the government, thus no increase or decrease and no merger or dismantling of the ministries.

Prior to the reorganization, ministers of Research and Innovation, National Education and the minister-delegate for European Affairs have been replaced due to the resignation of the predecessors.

The reshuffle aroused widespread concern in the local political arena in the context of the increasing internal struggle of the largest party in Romania, as well as of the upcoming taking-over of the European Union Council Presidency in the first semester of 2019.